CHICAGO – The UIC women's basketball team (0-0) will cut the ribbon on the 2019-20 season on Thursday as it travels to face future Horizon League foe Purdue Fort Wayne (1-0). The game will be the first of a three-game road stint for the Flames.

Young Squad

• Over half of UIC's roster this season will be made up of underclassmen, as the Flames welcome eight newcomers this season, six of which are true freshman.
• Kimeira Burks, Amira Coles, Tiana Jackson, Ahsha Spencer and Shelby Case will all be starting their collegiate careers this season, while transfers Jealissa Presswood and Daijah Smith will be starting their first seasons in a Flames Uniform.
• Presswood returns home to Chicago after two years at Miami Dade, where she appeared in 23 games her sophomore year, averaging 4.4 points per game, 3.7 rebounds per game and 1.2 assists per game.
• Smith joins the Flames after spending her freshman season at Indiana State, playing in 27 games and scoring 126 points, while also pulling down 60 rebounds and handing out 20 assists.

Exhibition Thriller

• The Flames welcomed St. Louis College of Pharmacy to Chicago on Monday (Nob. 4) for a preseason tuneup inside UIC's practice facility, the Flames Athletic Center.
• UIC ousted the Eutectics by a final tally of 78-51 behind 51.5 percent shooting.
• The Flames also got the job done on defense, forcing 29 turnovers, 18 of which were steals.
• Tylah Lampley led all scorers by a long shot, erupting for 29 points while also tallying six steals and four rebounds.
• Jada Nneji double-doubled, tallying 11 points to go with 10 rebounds, while also adding four blocks.

Meet the Mastodons

• Purdue Fort Wayne is coming off a 7-22 campaign in 2018-19 with a 3-13 mark in Summit League play.
• This season will be the Mastodon's final in the Summit League, as they will be joining the Horizon League on July 1, 2020.
• The Mastodons are off to a 1-0 start after defeating Purdue Northwest on Tuesday evening, 73-50.
• Redshirt senior Sh'Toya Sanders led the way for Purdue Fort Wayne against the Pride, reeling in 17 points and 10 rebounds for the team's first double-double of the season.
• UIC defeated the Mastodons 67-51 in the last meeting between the two teams back in 2017. The Flames are 4-1 all-time against the future Horizon League foe.